Dough divider



. F. STREICH DOUGH DIVIDER May 6, 1930.

Filed July 29, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 11111111111111"! III I I f 1 i a j1/612 for: flan irJ irez'ck y 19307 STREICH 1,757,099

DOUGH DIVIDER Filed July 29, 1929 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 v Z/ z/e1i for;flax/27v QT 17291272,

Patented May 6, 1 930 UMTED STAT S Parent oFFIcE '3 FRANK sTREIoH, ordonate, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO UNION MAoII NE vcotrPAJSIY,

' or JOLIE'I, ILLnIoIsn CORPORATION or ILLINOIS Q JQUGH mvmn vfApplication filed July 29,

.A dough divider of this type is more fully shown and described-inmyprior patent on dough dividers, No. 1,599,805, issued November, 3, 1925,to which reference is hereinafter made.

The principal obje ct of the present invention is the provision of novelmeans for regulating the amount of dough taken'into the dough receivingchamber. In the type of machine forming the subject matter of this specification, the capacity of the .measurmg pocket may be altered for thepurposeof accuity.

rately measuring the quantity of dough for I loaves: of bread or buns ofvarious sizes or weights. To enable the correct amount of dough, orsubstantially the correctamount to be taken into the dough receivingchamber from the hopper, provision must be had for varying the amount soas tocorrespond with that forcedinto the measuring pocket. In the past,considerable.difficulty-has been encountered in handling soft and harddough,

and one of the objects of the present invention is to provide means bywhichhard and soft dough may be handled with, equal faciL lVith theseand othe'rlobjects and advan tages in view, this invention consists ina" i dough divider havingmeans for regulating the size of "the openingor passageway between the hopper and the dough receiving chamberandwhich isusually controlled by a member termed a knife; It furtherconssists in the provision of regulatingmeans interposed between theknife 7 actuating means and knife to thereby. vary the backward oropening movement of the-knife without vary I ing the forward or closingmovementthereof. i It further consistsina dough divider in-whichregulatable means are provided for the knife and for theplunger whichcharges. thedough into the measuring-pocket, here-v by' the amount ofdough taken into the re- ,ceiving chamber may be varied-to correspond1929, 1 Serial No. 381,769.

with the amount forced into the measuring pocket I Thefinventiomfurtherconsistsin the sev; eral novel features of construction, arrange- Iparts hereinafterq ment and combination of fully set forth. 7 v. w r{The invention is clearly illustrated in the drawings accompanying thisspecification in which V V Flgllllls avlew, partly in side elevation andpartly in vertical longitudinal section,

through a dough divider embodying a simple form ofthe present invention,

Fig. 2 is a fragmental viewof the dough 7 handling mechanismillustratedin Fig. 1, but showing the parts in a different position;Fig. 3 is a 'fragmental end elevation looking in the direction 'ofthearrow 3 in Fig.

of which is sjupp'orteda hopper 6 in which-the dough is receivedfro'ma'place located above the machine. Below the ,hop'per'is a doughreceiving chamber 7, usually rectangular in cross section, in whichreciprocates a chargmg plunger '8 which forces the dough from therecelvlng chamber 7 into the measuring pocket, hereinafterdescribed,andjcompresses y .it therein. Between the hopperfi and the receivingchamber 7 is an opening 9 through which the dough pas'ses'from thehopper to the receiving chamber, andsaidopeningi) is fcontrolled by aflat plate 10', hereinafter called knife, which reciprocates back andforth "above the plunger 8 and opens and closes the opening 9. Thereceiving chamber 7 is formed in a horizontally disposed member 11 whichis "bolted or otherwise secured to the r me' At the discharge end of thereceiving chamber 7 is a measuring pocket l2 which: is formed-inamovable head 13, here shown as slidably mounted in guides 14 carried bythe frame of the machine. For the purpose of discharging the dough fromthe measuring pocket 12, the head 13 is 'reciprocated in a verticaldirection after the dough has been charged into the pocket. o.

An ejecting plunger 151is slidably mounted in the measuring pocket 12and form'san' adjustablewallfor one end of the pockets The usualadjustment mechanism 16 is provided for the" plunger 15, which mechanismcontains an abutment plate 17 against which a roller 18, carried by, theejecting plunger l5,bears when the dough is being charged into themeasuringpocket. I An adjustment stud '19' tl'1readed in the support ofthe adjustment means is provided as usual, for adjusting the iabutmentplatel'l to varythe capacity of the 'ineasuring pocket 12, asislwell understood.

-Actu'ating' mechanism is provided for the dough handhngmembers abovedescribed, and in thetype of mach ne described, said mechanism isoperated'fro-ni a main shaft" 20 I journaled'in suitable bearingsmounted onthe frame of the machine Usually the actuating mechanism forthe plunger 8compr1ses an operating lever 21", carried by a shaft or rod26, and-connected at its;upper end tothe plungerby ali'nk; 22 andreceiving its mo-- 7 tion fromja suitably shaped cain 23 mounted on" thedrive-shaft 20. The lever 21 carries a roller 24 which travels in thecam groove of the cam 23, as is customary. As a' preference, said lever21 is formed of jointed arms 1 21 and 21", formed witlrstop shoulder 21and 21 and providedlwitlr a compression spring 25 between the two armsfor obtalnlng v a cushioning effect upon the dough when compressing thesame, as is customary. Theshaft 26 upon which the operatinglever 21 iscarried is omou-nted'in the frame of the machine. An operating'lever 27also carried by the shaft 26 and connected at its upper end to the knifeby a link 28-reciprocates said knife in timedrelation to them'overr'ients'of the plunger 8. 'Acam 29 mounted upon the main driveshaft and cot-operating with a roller 30 carried by the operatingilever27 serves .toooscillateithe lever 27 andctherewith reciprocates theknife 10 in timed relation to the movements of the plungers 8.] V

A. lever 31 also carriedby the shaft 26 and I ,co-operating' with acanron the drive shaft 20, reciprocates theheadlg in timed relation tothe movements oftheplu'nger 8,, The. lever Blis oonnectedto the headl13a link 32am V be" provided with a counterweight '33 to;

facilitatethe operation of the head 13. i a V a -An arm 34, mounted on arod 35 connected to the operatinglever 27 by a link' 36, is provided formoving the ejecting plunger '15 adirection to discharge the measuredhunps of dough'fro m the ineasuringpocket 12, and

I saidrnechanism timed to move the ejecting plunger when the headreaches the lower limit of its travel. A" conveyor belt 37,. I

trained around a roller 38, carried by the frame of the machine, isprovided for receiving the lumps of dough after being discharged fromthe measuring pocket 12 and carrying them away to other mechanism forsubsequent operations. a

As in the machine of the patent above referred to, suitablemechanism-may hep-1o a vided for dividing thelump of dough measuredinthe pocket 12 into individual lumps,v

bllli' ilSi'tlllS mechanism forms no part of the present invention, itwill not be described in detail. The mechanism thus far described issubstantially the same as that shown and de- I As has been set forthabove, the capacity of the measuring pocket 12rmay bevaried to receivethe'requiredarnount of doughforjthe "manufacture of loavesof breador'bunsof' scribed-in the pr or patent above referred to. I c

various-sizes or weights. mien the capacity,

com-esnecessary to vary theamountof dough taken into the receivingchamber 7, and in or-.' der toaccomplish this, means are provided for'varying the size of the opening 9 between the hopper 6 andgre'ceivingchamber 7, which will now be described;

or the measuring pocket is? changed, it be-; f I

Regulatablelost motion' means are 'provid edbetweenthe operating lever-27 and the knife 10' whereby the backward movement of said knife inuncovering the opening 9 bc- 7 tweenthe hopper 6 and receiving chamber 7may be varied without varying the forward movementof'the knife inwclosing said openlng. In theform of the invention illustrated:theupperend of the operating lever 27 is jointed as at 39, therebyproviding an arm 40 which may havea limited'amount of lost;

'motion when the operating lever 27 is moved in the direction to uncoverthe opening 9.

The main portion ofthe lever 27 is vformed i with stop-shoulders 41projecting laterally from the sides of the lever, and the arm 40 has abifurcated extension 42 on the oppositerside of thejoint with the mainportion of the lever27 which extension is arranged to abut against thestopshoulders 41 whenever thelever 27 is moved in the direction to'close the opening 9. Adjustable means are provided for permittingmovement of the extension 42 of the ar'm40 away'from the stop shoulders41 through'a limited-extent,

atinglever 21 and the plunger Sjmay he formed with regulatable lostmotion vmeans similar ctof that shown in; connection with the operatinglever 27., Inv the drawing, the upper end ofthemember 21 of the operat-*inglever' 21' shown as provided with an dough, contained in thereceiving; chamber 7, has been chargedinto the pocket 12, the

head l l is'moved' down and the dough dlS-l charged fromthe pocket, andbefore the head 13 reaches the upperllimiuof the stroke, the

plunger and knife are'moved-backwardby the cam mechanism topermit thechamber 7 to receive another charge, the knife '10 uncovering orpartially uncovering the opening 9, depending upon theca dju'stment ofthe regulating means for varying the backward stroke of theknife 10. 11 1. r Asshown in the drawings, the pin 43 is placed in the uppermosthole'tikof the op-f crating leverQT, and, as a result,iwhen the inoperating lever 27 is moved backwards, the joint 39 between themalnportion ofthelever 27 and .arm 40 permits the upper end of themainpart ofthe lever 27 to move? through a limited distancewithout'effecting the movement of theknifealfl, and during said movementof the' lever 'i, it swings the armeo upon its pivotal connection withthei link 28 until the extension 42 of the armjr iO engages with the pin43, whereby the furtherlmovement of the operating lever 27 inovesthe arm40 bodily with it, thereby retracting the knife 10. Because of thelostmotion connection betweenthe operatinglever 27 and knife 10, the knifeis moved through a'lesser distance than it would be if the operatinglever were connectedto the link 28 without any lost motion between them.In Fig. 2,- the, operating lever 27 iso-s'hown at the limit of itsbackward stroke, the knife be ing only partially retracted, whereby thesize .of the opening 9 has been reduced considerably.

backward or suction stroke of the plunger 8, a lesser amount of doughwill be-taken into the receiving chamber 7 thanif the opening 9 werecompletely uncovered. The siaeof the uncovered portion of the opening sregulated by plac ng the pm 43 in the proper hole at in the lever 27,thus regulating the amount 7 of, dough taken into the dough receivingchamber to correspond with the amount charged into the measuring pocket.I

the operating lever; 21 for the plunger" 8, the backward movement orsuction stroke of 'the plunger may'bevaried and-variouspredeterminedquantities of dough" canthereby betaken into the receiving chamber 7 "soas to correspond tothe amount requiredto be It will be seen, therefore,thatduring the herein, ,7

forced .in'toithe'measuring pocket 12. By

providing'the regulating meansygfor the plunger, asrwell asifortheknlfe, thequan tity of dough taken into the receiving cham-v ber may bevaried with considerable -accuracy- It will be understood-that the'sizeof the uncovered openingf), is regulated to correspond with the:adjustment; made in" the measuring pocket 12 andthat when the measuringpocket is adjusted to; receive a large lump, the size of the uncoveredopening 9 is increasedto correspond with the capacityiof the measuringpocket,

-During the backward movem'ent f the plunger .beyond'theiforward edgeof; the knife,a partial vacuum 'isproduced inthereceiving chamberj lwhich facilitates move 1 ment ofzthe dough from the hopperinto saidI'BCGlVlIlg chamber, and when operating on heavy dough, it isof'importance thatconsiderable;suction'pbegapplied in the receivingchamber to bring the'full. amount of; dough intoit. 'To thisend theregulatable means are I providedbetweenthe plunger and its operat inglever, whereby the suction stroke ,of the plunger 'may be.increasedrelative' to the backwardstroke of theiknife totherebyenablethe receiving chamberto take in a preused on rlightidoughthe vacuum required is not so high and,.consequently, theregulatingdevice. is set accordingly.

lt willibe observed that the knife "i0 Gear's the plunger .8 at alltimes, thereby preventing" -doughflfrom lodging upon the uppersurface ofthe plunger whenbeing admitted toethe dough receiving chamber@ The upperface of the iplunger ijs, thereforepkept free from dough which wouldotherwise interfere with formof theIconstructionshown and described,but, intend, in the following claims, to point out all ot the inventiondisclosed v I claim-as and desire to see L terse Patent a 1. In a doughdivider, thegcombination of a hopper,.a dough receiving chambcropen ingthereto, regulatable means for cont-rolling determined full charge ofdough. gWhen the size of theopening betvveenthe hopper anddoughfreceiving chamber, aQ-member havmgameasurlng pocket adapted' toreceive dough" from said receiving chamber,

means for regulating; the capacity of said When the regulating means isprovided in V measuring-pocket, a plunger -adaptedto operate in thev.dou ght recei'vinga chamber and 7 adapted on its rearward stroke'to:draw dough 2. In a dough dividenthe combination of a hopper, 'a'doughreceiving chamber opening thereto,'a movable plate controllingtheopening between the hopper and dough re- .c'eiving chamber, means.foractuating said plate,1ncludmg regulating means for varying the lengthof stroke of said plate, a memher having a measuring pocket, a plungerin said receiving-chamber, andmeans for actuating said plunger. i 3. Ina dough divider, the combination of a hopper, a dough receiving chambercommunicating therewith, amovableplate for coveringand'uncoveringthepassage between the hopperand dough receiving chamber,plate actuating mechanism IIIChICllIlglBglllatable means for varyingthebackward movement of theplate, a memberhaving a measuring pocket, areciprocable plunger-in said dough receiving chamber, 'a lever foractuating the plunger-, anc l means for mov-' ing-the lever.-- a 4; Inadough divider, the combinationof ahopper, a dough'receivingchambercommunicating-therewith, a reciprocable knife for controlling thepassage between the hopper and dough receiving chamber, a knife actnating lever, there being regulatable means between said lever andknife for varying the backward stroke of "the knife,- a' plunger in saiddough receiving chamber, and means for operating said plunger.

5'. In a dough divider, th'e'combination of a hopper,-a dough receivingchamber communicating therewitlna reciprocable' knife controlling thepassage between the hopper and dough receiving chamber, :akn'ifeactuating municating therewithfa knife for control-- ling the passagebetween' said hopper and dough receiving-chamber, an-operatingleverconnected to said knife and having a omted arm 'ca-pable of alimitedamountf'of lost moltionfa-nd stop" members for limiting :the

amount of lost motion, one ;of said stop; membe-rs being adjustablymounted V s. In 'dmlgh' divider; thejcombination er a hopper, a d'onghreceiving -chamberxcomr ni'unicating therewith, a knifecontrolling thepassage between said hopperand dough I receiving chamber, knifeopera-ting mechanism,1.ineluinga lost motion" element for city of saidpocket;

varying the length of a stroke-0f said knife, a plunger in saidvdoughreceiving chamber, vplunger actuating mechanism, a member having a doughmeasuring pocket, and means-for varying the capacity of said pocket.

In a dough divider, the combination of a hopper, a dough receivingchamber communicating therewith, a knife for controlling the size of theopening between said hopper and dough receiving chamber, knife actuatingmechanismincluding means for varying the stroke of $3.161 knife, aplunger In said :dough receiving chamber, plunger actuating means, avertically reciprocable member having a dough measuring pocket therein,and means for varying the capacity of said measuring pocket. r V

10. In adough divider, the combination of dough measuringpocket, meansfor varying the capac ty ofysald pocket, a =rec1procable plunger in sald'dough rece ving chamber, "a

leverfconnectejd to said plunger and formed with a'j'ointedjarm havingalimited amount of lost motion whereby the backward'stroke of the plungermay bevaried without vary ing the forward stroke thereof. H

1 1. In a douglidivider, the combination of a hopper, adough receivingchamber com municating therewith, a member l having a measuring pocket,means for varymg the capacity of said measurlngpocket, a knife for anddough receiving chamber, a plunger reciproca-ting in said chamber,operating mechanism for said knife, andfope'ratingmechanism for saidplungeflboth including lost motion elements, whereby the backwardstrokes of the knife and plunger may be varied of. a r v 12. Ina doughdivider,.a knife for controlling thepassage betweena' hopper and a doughreceiving chamber, an operating lever for said knife, and a linkconnecting said operating lever with said knife, said operating leverhavinga jointedmember provided with a regulatable amount of limited'lostmotion. 13."In a dough divider, the combination bf a hopper,adoughreceiving chamber comahopper,a dough receiving chambercommun1cat1ng:therew1th,- a member having 'a v controlling the openingbetweenthe hopper without varying the forward 'strokes'theremunica'tingtherewith, a knife for .controlling the size ofthe opening betweensaidhopper and dough receiving chamber, knife actuating. mechanismincludingmeans for varying the backward stroke 'of theknife, a

. plunger in said dough receiving chamber,

plunger actuating mechanism including means for varying thevbackstrokeof the .p1 n beyond the opening controlled by the knife,a memberhaving a'dough measun' ing pocket, and-means for varying the capa- '14.In a dough divider, the combination of a hoppega doughreceivingfchambercom- 7 r 9 for varying theamount of vacuum produced municatingtherewith, a knife for controlling the size of the opening betweensaid'hopper land dough receiving chambenknife actuating mechanism,regulating means between the knife and knife actuating mechanism for Vvarying the backward stroke of the.knife,'a I plunger in said doughreceiving chamber,

' plunger actuating mechanism, and'regulating means between said plungerand its actuating mechanism for varying the backward strokeof theplunger beyond the opening uncovered by the knife, whereby the suctioncreated by said backwardmovement oi the knife beyond the openingmay bevaried.

V 15. In a dough divider, the combination of n a dough receiving chamberhaving a regulatable inlet opening, a regulatabledoughmeasuring pocket,a plunger reciprocating in said dough receiving chamber and operating tocreate a partial vacuum therein, and means illroportion to the size ofth r l t inlet opening. a r v FRANK :STREICH.

